Food Blog F.A.Q.s

What are the metric measurements for this recipe that was posted in imperial [or vice versa]?

Many food blogs contain calculators within their recipes to convert measurements, but for those that don’t, you can use your preferred search engine to look up [amount] [unit] = [unit you need]. For example, “1 cup = liter” will return 0.23 liters.

I’m allergic to or don’t have access to an ingredient. What can I replace it with?

In general, recipes are kitchen-tested as-written and substitutions, when they have also been tested, will be noted in the recipe. Cooking fats like coconut oil, lard, tallow, and duck fat are usually interchangeable, as are cold-use fats like olive and avocado oil. Plantains can sometimes be replaced with very green bananas. Coconut flour is very difficult to substitute and will require some experimentation if you need to replace it with another type of flour. Arrowroot powder, kuzu starch, and tapioca are sometimes interchangeable, but you may have to adjust the amount. Liquid sweeteners like honey and maple syrup are usually interchangeable. Unless the author notes substitutions in the recipe, assume that you’ll be making substitutions at your own risk, and any changes you make might not work out as well.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This is usually noted in the recipe. As a general rule of thumb, one serving of meat is 4 ounces and one serving of produce is 1 cup. Some quick math will tell you about how many servings a recipe yields based on the amount of those ingredients included. But since these recipes emphasize foods that are nutrient-dense, I don’t like to define serving sizes. Eat as much as you need to!

What is the calorie/sugar/fat/etc. count for this recipe?

Unless that count is provided in the recipe, the author does not have that information. It takes a lot of effort to generate a relatively accurate nutrient analysis and the numbers can vary wildly depending on whether or not you use the same brand of ingredients, how fresh your ingredients are, whether or not you change the cooking times or method, whether or not those ingredients are even in the USDA database, and how large you consider a serving. If you really need the data, you can create your own analysis using tools like Cron-O-Meter.

I’m diabetic. How many grams of sugar are in a serving and can I make this recipe with a sugar substitute instead?

If there’s too much sugar in one serving, consider having smaller servings alongside a large meal high in fat and protein. If a recipe has been tested with sugar substitutes, that will be noted in the recipe post. Otherwise, use them at your own risk, knowing that the recipe might not come out the same.

Can I make this recipe in a crock pot/slow cooker?

Yes. Here are some tips for converting recipes to crock pot/slow cooker recipes.

Can I freeze this?

Probably! Let it cool to room temperature before freezing it in an airtight container or wrapped in foil or wax paper. Let it thaw for a day in the fridge before reheating it (if needed) on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave.

Wait, don’t microwaves destroy the nutrients in foods?

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that microwaves are any more detrimental than any other cooking method. In fact, some foods retain more nutrients when cooked in the microwave due to the shorter cooking time required.

I am struggling with my health. Do you have any advice?

As much as I want to help you solve your issues, this is really something you need to talk to a licensed professional about. I am happy to commiserate, though! You are not alone and there is a whole community of other patients out there ready to support you through whatever you’re going through, many of whom may have resources for your specific need.

I’m having trouble receiving e-mails from you, like purchase confirmations or your newsletter.

Have you checked your spam folder? Are you sure the e-mail was delivered to the correct address and have you checked your other e-mail addresses just in case? If you haven’t subscribed to the newsletter yet, you can sign up via the pop-up that opens on my site after a few seconds (if you’ve already seen and closed this window, just clear your browser’s cookies to get it to show up again). You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours.  Be sure to check your spam folder! Once you receive the e-mail, be sure to click the link in it to confirm your subscription. If you can’t find it, try subscribing again. If it tells you you are already subscribed but you haven’t received the latest newsletter, then leave a comment or send an e-mail asking for troubleshooting.

I’m having trouble downloading your e-book or other file or opening a page on your site.

Have you reset your browser cookies and emptied your cache? Have you tried another browser? If you are using a mobile or tablet, can you try from a computer instead? Is your device/app up to date? Do you need to restart your device? Have you Googled your problem (for example, “wordpress blog displays a black screen on iPhone 5” or “Samsung tablet won’t download PDF files”) to see if there is support available for your particular device? Please try all of the above and then, if you still need help, e-mail us with the details of what you’ve tried with as many specifics about your problem as you can provide (including what devices and apps you’ve used and what precise error you are encountering). Having to go back and forth to get the details is time-consuming for both of us, and this is assuming we can even help. If everything is working on our end and the problem is with your device or ISP, we can offer advice, but may not have the solution. Your device or app’s support or your internet service provider should be able to help.

Is your website down? or I’m having trouble accessing your site.

Visit this page to find out whether or not the website is down. If the site tells you that it’s down for everyone, we’re probably already working on it. If it’s down for just you, see the suggestions in the question above.